A virtual state of emergency exists in central London, plans to extend it city-wide, perhaps to be followed in other European cities beyond repressive measures already in place.

UK media said London police are treating Wednesday’s incident as terrorism. Westminster is on lockdown. Its underground station was closed, nearby streets cordoned off to traffic. Security forces are deployed in force.

At one point on Wednesday, police armed with guns and protective shields marched into parliament, an extraordinary surreal action.

London’s Guardian said the alleged attacker was known to counterterrorism officials, “his connections and associates” being investigated.

Without corroborating evidence, Mark Rowley called the attacker’s motivation “Islamist related,” inspired by ISIS, though most likely he was a “lone actor.”

“The location of this attack was no accident,” she blustered. “The terrorists chose to strike at the heart of our capital city where all nationalities, religions and cultures come together to celebrate the values of liberty, democracy and freedom of speech.”

Her hyperbole sounded pre-scripted. Unknown so far is whether Wednesday’s incident was terrorism as claimed, street violence unrelated to terrorism, or a state-sponsored false flag.

The incident’s high-profile nature, capturing world headlines, creates obvious suspicions about whether what occurred may have been other than what’s reported – especially given numerous false flags in Western cities in recent years.

Perhaps Wednesday’s London attack was the latest. The alleged perpetrator isn’t alive to explain.